What's the result of this year's elections? That the voter has clearly come of age

The verdict of 2012 is the coming of age of the Indian voter. The vast populace is not anymore a silent majority driven by oxymoronic and prehistoric notions of caste, creed, religion, opportunism, musclemen and criminal dominated politics.

Else what can explain the historic victory of the Akali Dal-BJP combine in Punjab, resurrection of BJP in Uttarakhand, BJP victory in Goa, third time clean sweep by Congress in Manipur and the decisive and clear mandate for Samajwadi Party in UP.

Development and a sincere promise of sustained action on the ground is the differentiator and key to political power- a fact, which till date, has not quite been accepted in the northern part of India.

Samajwadi Party workers wear masks of party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav as they celebrate the success of their party in the UP assembly elections

It was said that Punjab never repeats its ruling dispensation. But freebies and the promise of a development-oriented economy drove the multitude of urban voters to polling booths to break the jinx and return the SAD-BJP combine to office.

Captain Amarinder Singh may have offered to resign from his post as state party president, but is he the only person to blame? What about the Star Campaigners - Rahul Gandhi, the sphinx-like Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the only Sikh Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh?

Not that the Congress party has only egg on its face. Manipur is a saving grace. But the pathetic performance of the party in Uttar Pradesh and the margin of a one seat victory in Uttarakhand, should force the national party to either go in for a complete overhaul or accept the fact that politics is an art of organisation, mass connect and deliverance.

The tamasha in front of television cameras, the posturing by Rahul Gandhi to present an image of the 'angry young man of 80s' is passé. Rahul Gandhi travelled more than 1.5 lakh kilometres in 6 months of his blitz campaign. He addressed more than 200 rallies and jan sabhas in UP alone. Was assisted by his 'frog' sister, Priyanka, in garnering votes in their family borough, Amethi and Rai Barelli.

With his rolled up kurta, raving and ranting against Mayawati and Mulayam Singh, Rahul Gandhi attracted a lot of press coverage, but at the end of the day his party saw a mere 6 seat improvement over its 2007 performance.

It's not good enough for party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to accept the onus of failure. Nor does it bode well for the grand old party of India to be reduced to the number four party in the most populous state in India.

Blaming lack of party structure, inappropriate candidate selection and lack of leadership in the face of too many towering leaders are but lame excuses. It was the foursome - Rahul Gandhi, Digvijaya Singh, Beni Prasad Verma and Kanishka Singh, who were squarely responsible for ticket distribution in UP.

So, who went wrong? Will Kanishka Singh own up on ticket distribution, as he was the one who finally presented the list and quelled all dissension? Even a layman knew that the party structure in UP was in a shambles.

So can Rahul Gandhi aided by master strategist or modern Chanakya, Digvijaya Singh claim ignorance? If the Congress is not willing to look straight in the eye, fix its feudal mindset, allow local leadership to come up, it won't be long before it assumes the role of a party of yesteryear.

Despite his smiling face at the post counting press conference, BJP President Nitin Gadkari needs to introspect, if the main opposition party wishes to capture power at the Centre in 2014.

The state which propelled BJP to power in 1998 and 1999 is now quite out of its reach. With more than five chief ministerial aspirants- and an imported candidate (Uma Bharti)- 'the party with a difference', is no different from its archrival, the Congress.

The slipping fortunes of the BJP in UP elections serve as the last warning prior to 2014. Squabbling between senior leaders, lack of vision for regrouping and the complete absence of a developmental agenda need to be addressed immediately.

The development of a strong local leadership in UP - an art the BJP has perfected in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh-is of utmost importance.

The thumping victory of the Samajwadi Party in UP can be attributed to the two faces projected by the party, that of the trusted wrestler cum farmer face of Mulayam Singh Yadav, hailed as a minority messiah, and the modern and development oriented persona of Akhilesh Yadav.

This two headed image, with a carefully planned strategy to wean away minority voters from the Congress's fold, has paid rich dividends.

'Cycle with laptop under the banner of sickle moon' - was how a senior journalist had described Samajwadi Party to me in Lucknow in the beginning of February.

Fears of alleged goonda raj still lurk in the bylanes of UP towns, but the verdict is clearly for a government based on principles and developmental politics.

While travelling with Akhilesh Yadav on many occasions, it was clear that he personally knew most party workers.

In conversation with me, he enumerated the strengths and weaknesses of his vote bank, the Yadavs, backward castes and Muslims.

In one conversation over breakfast, he said: 'When we form the government, it will be my priority to ensure that our perception of promoting criminals never gains ground. We will cut these people out. If we want to play a long innings, which we will, I have to ensure this without fail.'

In the mad rush of government formation I hope, Akhilesh Yadav holds on to his resolve.

The challenge of fulfilling all manifesto promises is a tall order, but if the SP leadership ensures even 50 per cent compliance, it will pave the way for a better UP.

The writer is Executive Editor, Aaj Tak

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What's the result of this year's elections? That the voter has clearly come of age